Students mourn the loss of teacher Marvin Taylor      Students at Sunny Hill School are feeling the loss this school year of one of their most beloved teachers, Marvin Taylor, who passed away on June 19. He taught in the Haywood County School System for 24 years.      Taylor’s family said, “He believed if you could touch and make a difference in one child’s life, they and the world would be a better place to live. His mission was helping and touching the lives of children and all those that he met.”      A 1980 cum laude graduate of Lane College in Jackson, Taylor held a bachelor of arts degree and was pursuing a master’s degree at the time of his death. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.      Taylor taught science, spelling, and math at Sunny Hill School the last 10 years of his career. His peers commended his tireless efforts, dedication and his contribution to the children of Haywood County.

Marvin Taylor

     Two of his students were quick to sing his praises as a teacher and as a man. Chris said, “He was really nice to me – a good teacher, I learned a lot from him.”

     Marquayle, another of Taylor’s students, said, “When I got into trouble, he would help me by talking to the other teachers and Mrs. Bond (the principal). I enjoyed going to his class each day.”

     Taylor was a member of First Baptist Church and leaves two daughters, Angela Taylor and Cara Taylor, both of Brownsville.

     Sunny Hill principal Dorothy Bond and Taylor’s co-workers have set up in his name a scholarship and support fund for Haywood County students. Anyone wishing to donate to this fund can contact Mrs. Bond at 772-0670.

Tracy Evans Sunny Hill’s “Webmaster”

Each of the schools in Haywood County has its own website, thanks to the efforts of their “webmasters.” At Sunny Hill School, art teacher Tracy Evans created his school’s site, and maintains it with new designs, school information, and news for students, parents and other community members who log on to the site. To log onto any of the schools’ websites, go to www.haywood.k12.us/ then add the school’s initials behind the slash: Anderson (aec), Haywood Elementary (he), East Side (es), Sunny Hill (sh), Haywood Junior High School (hjh), and Haywood High School (hhs).

Sunny Hill honored for Distinguished Program

Director of Schools George Chapman learned in late November from State Department of Education Commissioner Lana Seivers that Sunny Hill Elementary is one of four Tennessee Schools that received recognition under the Title I Distinguished Schools Program.

The Title I Distinguished Schools Program awards recognition in two categories. Sunny Hill received the state award in the second category for schools that have significantly closed the achievement gap between student groups in their schools.

Sunny Hill School Principal Dorothy Bond said, “I am particularly proud of my students for their performance on the state test and for positively responding to the instruction that they are given. I would also like to commend the staff at Sunny Hill School for always going that extra mile to be sure that the students are receiving a quality education.

These awards are based on performance on Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests, Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System data as well as making adequate yearly progress as required by the No Child Left Behind act.